Gemma Atkinson has been forced to defend her fiancée and their mates this weekend after a reunion selfie attracted unwarranted criticism online.
The former Emmerdale actress, 36, and her fiancée Gorka Marquez, 30, were chuffed to reunite with the stars of Strictly Come Dancing on Saturday.
Adhering to Covid restrictions, the group headed to an outdoor beer garden, taking a seat at a bench before snapping a selfie.
Alongside Gemma and Gorka, Johannes Radebe, Aljaz Skorjanec, Clara Amfo and Janette Manrara could be seen smiling at the camera.
"Reunited!” Gemma wrote in her caption.
Unfortunately, certain online users noticed each member of the party had their phone out on the table, and took to the comment section to make snide remarks.
One complained: "Great photo of friends together but I find the phones disturbing."
"Reunited yet you all have your mobiles on the table? Wow, some reunion that must have been. Put them away" a second moaned.
Gemma was quick to snap back at the trolls, taking to her account to write: “My phone was very much out" and adding a thumbs-up emoji.
She later clarified their phones were needed to order food and drinks to the table, writing: "No menus. Just phone orders to your table."
The mum-of-one is close with the cast of Strictly, having taken part in the show herself back in 2017, making it to finals of the competition.
While they were partnered with different dancers during their time on Strictly, Gemma and Gorka got to know one another backstage, striking up a connection.
They started dating a few months later, and eventually welcomed their first child in May of 2019, naming the baby girl Mia.
The lovebirds announced their engagement in February, with the soap star flashing her ring in an Instagram post and writing: "Valentine's forever… Of course I said yes."
Gorka similarly paid tribute to his wife-to-be, penning: "The best day with my forever Valentine's. I asked and she said YES! Happy Valentine's Day everyone."
During an appearance on Steph’s Packed Lunch last month, Gemma shared their plans to marry overseas, settling on a far-flung location to say their vows.
"We’re obviously not going to do it this year given everything that is going on, the only thing we have agreed on so far is that we are going to do it abroad," Gemma said.
"Gorka wants his family to be able to order drinks at the bar and understand the waiters. His family don’t speak English and my family don’t speak Spanish, so we’ve said that we’ll meet halfway.
"That’s all we’ve agreed on. Not this year, but the year after – if I can tolerate him for that long obviously!"
Source: Read Full Article
